Hibiscus plant named ‘Pink Kai’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Pink Kai’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and dense plant habit that is appropriate for container production; glossy medium green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; large dark pink-colored flowers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Pink Kai’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Pink Kai’.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is tocreate new freely-branching Hibiscus cultivars with a dense, uniform andcompact plant habit appropriate for container production, early anduniform flowering, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flowercolor and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Alva, Fla. in February, 2004, of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis‘Cajun Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,589, as the female, orseed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Casa Grande Soft Pink’, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Alva, Fla. on Aug. 22, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since February,2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pink Kai’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Pink Kai’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and dense plant habit        that is appropriate for container production.    -   2. Glossy medium green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.    -   4. Large dark pink-colored flowers.    -   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Cajun Wind’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily fromplants of ‘Cajun Wind’ in flower color as plants of ‘Cajun Wind’ havered-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘Casa Grande Soft Pink’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plantsof ‘Casa Grande Soft Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants        of ‘Casa Grande Soft Pink’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Casa Grande Soft Pink’ differ        in flower color as plants of ‘Casa Grande Soft Pink’ have light        pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Maui Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,569. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newHibiscus differed from plants of ‘Maui Wind’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were denser than and not as open        as plants of ‘Maui Wind’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had lighter green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Maui Wind’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Maui Wind’        differed in flower color as plants of ‘Maui Wind’ had light        pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of typical flowering plants of ‘Pink Kai’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Pink Kai’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. in one-galloncontainers in polyethylene-covered greenhouses during the spring underconditions which closely approximate commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 18° C. toabout 38° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to about21° C. Plants had been growing for 18 weeks when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Pink Kai’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Cajun            Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,589.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Casa Grande            Soft Pink’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°            C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of            24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous;, white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,            outwardly spreading and dense. Moderately vigorous growth            habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about five to six            lateral branches develop.        -   Plant height.—About 38 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 47 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 24 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Immature, sparsely pubescent; mature, woody and            rough.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 146C.        -   Color, mature.—Close to 199A to 199B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.        -   Length.—About 9.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Broadly serrate to crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery and tough.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;            venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 3.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.            Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf            axils. Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about            18 flower buds and/or open flowers per plant at one time.            Flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Flower appearance.—Rounded, dark pink-colored flowers.            Flowers are open for one or two days. Flowers not            persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or            during periods of warm weather; plants flower year-round in            the greenhouse.        -   Flower diameter.—About 12.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 7.5 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Resistance to abscission during shipping: Plants            of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist flower bud            drop when stored in a closed box for five days at 13° C.            Rate of opening: About five to seven days depending on            temperatures. Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 185C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that            are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 7.5 cm.            Width: About 5.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly sinuate. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety; veins prominent on the lower            surface. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 58B.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 63B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 61C; towards the base, close to 46A.            Color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 63B. Color does not fade with development.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 9 mm.            Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 146D. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Bracts.—Appearance: About six fused at base. Length: About            1.2 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.            Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 146A to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Angle: About 45° from the lateral branch axis. Strength:            Strong, flexible. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close            to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 84. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close            to 58B. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm.            Anther color: Close to 58A. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 8.5 cm.            Style length: About 6.3 cm. Style texture: Smooth, waxy.            Style color: Close to NN155A. Stigma appearance:            Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close to 46A. Ovary            color: Close to 158B.-   Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures from about 0° C. to about 38° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under    Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible    to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and    Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to    be tolerant to pests and other pathogens.

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Pink Kai’ as illustrated anddescribed.